WE CLAIM:
1. A system comprising:
an ultrasound probe configured to enter into an engine and to emit an ultrasound pulse;
a coupling mechanism configured to provide an ultrasound coupling medium between the ultrasound probe and one or more components of the engine; and
a controller configured to drive the ultrasound probe to deliver the ultrasound pulse through the coupling medium to a surface of the one or more components of the engine, wherein the ultrasound probe is configured to deliver the ultrasound pulse to remove deposits from the one or more components of the engine.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to provide the coupling medium between the ultrasound probe and one or more blades, nozzles, combustor liners, or compressor blades of the engine.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface of the one or more components of the engine is an external surface, and the ultrasound probe is a focused ultrasound probe configured to focus the ultrasound pulse toward the exterior surface of the one or more components of the engine.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism includes a diaphragm that is at least partially filled with the ultrasound coupling medium and that is configured to engage the one or more components of the engine between the ultrasound probe and the one or more components.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ultrasound probe is configured to focus the ultrasound pulse toward the surface of the one or more components of the engine to remove the deposits while preventing removal of a thermal barrier coating on the one or more components of the engine.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an optical sensor configured to generate optical data representative of the one or more components of the engine during removal of the deposits by the ultrasound probe.
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7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface of the one or more components of the engine is an external surface and the one or more components include an opposite internal surface, and wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to provide the coupling medium from the ultrasound probe to the external surface and the controller is configured to direct the ultrasound probe to focus the ultrasound pulse through the external surface of the one or more components of the engine and onto the internal surface to remove the deposits from the internal surface.
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling medium includes a gallium-indium alloy.
9. A method comprising:
inserting an ultrasound probe into an engine;
delivering an ultrasound coupling medium between the ultrasound probe and one or more components of the engine; and
emitting an ultrasound pulse from the ultrasound probe and through the coupling medium to a surface of the one or more components of the engine, wherein the ultrasound pulse removes deposits from the one or more components of the engine.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein delivering the ultrasound coupling medium includes spraying the coupling medium onto the one or more components of the engine.
11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein delivering the ultrasound coupling medium includes engaging the surface of the one or more components of the engine with a diaphragm that is at least partially filled with the ultrasound coupling medium.
12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein emitting the ultrasound pulse removes the deposits from the surface of the one or more components of the engine while preventing removal of a thermal barrier coating on the one or more components of the engine.
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13. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising obtaining optical data representative of the one or more components of the engine from an optic sensor during removal of the deposits by the ultrasound probe.
14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the surface of the one or more components of the engine is an external surface and the one or more components include an opposite internal surface, and wherein the coupling medium is delivered onto the external surface, and wherein emitting the ultrasound pulse includes focusing the ultrasound pulse through the external surface of the one or more components of the engine and onto the internal surface to remove the deposits from the internal surface.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the one or more components include an internal cavity that is at least partially bounded by the internal surface, and further comprising at least partially filling the internal cavity with the ultrasound coupling medium or a different fluid.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein emitting the ultrasound pulse includes directing the ultrasound pulse toward the internal cavity and creating acoustic effects about the internal cavity for removing the deposits from the internal surface.
17. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising changing a frequency of the ultrasound pulse delivered by the ultrasound probe based on a thickness of the one or more components between the internal surface and the external surface.
18. A system comprising:
an ultrasound probe configured to enter into equipment and to emit an ultrasound pulse; and
a controller configured to drive the ultrasound probe to deliver the ultrasound pulse to a surface of the one or more components of the engine, wherein the ultrasound probe is configured to deliver the ultrasound pulse to remove deposits from the one or more components of the engine.
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19. The system as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a coupling mechanism configured to provide an ultrasound coupling medium between the ultrasound probe and one or more components of the engine.
20. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the ultrasound probe is configured to focus the ultrasound pulse toward the surface of the one or more components of the engine to remove the deposits while preventing removal of a thermal barrier coating on the one or more components of the engine.
21. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the surface of the one or more components of the engine is an external surface and the one or more components include an opposite internal surface, and wherein the controller is configured to direct the ultrasound probe to focus the ultrasound pulse through the external surface of the one or more components of the engine and onto the internal surface to remove the deposits from the internal surface.
Dated this 10th day of November, 2016
CHAIT ANYA WINGKAR
Agent for the Applicant [IN/PA-1532]
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